LETTER 1) A TEAM'S REQUIREMENTS:

COMMITMENT
· No Vacation during August
· All Tournaments are mandatory
· All practices are mandatory, including Sunday afternoon
· Players unable to attend every practice and boot camp will not be eligible for try-outs.
· All scrimmages and make-up games are mandatory
· Any exceptions to attendance requirements will be discussed between parent & coach. Coach will determine if any exception is warranted.
· Soccer will take priority over social activities.

ACCOUNTABILITY
· Parents are responsible for ensuring their child is on time for practices and one hour early for every game.
· Parents are responsible for ensuring their children bring the following: water and ball.
· Parents/players who are absent from team meetings, games or practices are responsible to follow up with the coach or another team member to obtain important and updated information and changes.

COMMUNICATION
· Each parent will contact the coach with any concerns or complaints relative only to their own child.
· Parents will not communicate their concerns or complaints through the Coaches spouses or through other parents.
· Parents will not provide instructions during the game, including half-time, to their child or any other player.
· Coaches are entitled to hold private conversations with the team and individual players without parental oversight.
· All parents will stand a minimum of 5 yards from the touch line.
· Parents if your child is feeling sick, taking medication or is injured notify the coach prior to practice or game of the situation.

DECISION-MAKING
· All decisions relative to game plans, strategy, player substitutions and practice regimen are a coaches prerogative and final.
· Players are not guaranteed minimum or maximum playing time for regular season or tournament play.
· Any Player with an attitude or attendance problem will be cut from the team.
· Parents having a negative influence on the team will be spoken to, and will be cut if the problem persists.
· Players are not guaranteed reinstatement each year on the team.


LETTER 2) From a first year coach:

Now that I've completed my first season coaching I would like to describe to you what I experienced this year. After our team's first game in which the kids played bravely and well, but lost 4-0, a parent said, 'Don't feel bad, '(I didn't) 'that team has the best coach in the league.' I had already noticed that his assistant was the club's head coach. Later, I found out that many of the club's board members had put their child on that particular team. Since this was recreational level play, I thought that the teams were to be selected geographically. It was pointed out to me that the club operates like a school; those who are active in PTA get the unadvertised "perks." Throughout the season I heard complaints from parents, coaches and referees about that team's selection process. Yet, no one would speak up.

I was willing to live with this "fact of life." Convincing myself that it was quite possible that the team had been selected fairly. That this team just happened to have the right mix of players and coaches which kept leading them to victory. I changed my mind, however, when the head coach set up the in-house tournament. He abandoned the system that had been in operation for years, This year, for some reason, the top team (head coach's) played two teams from the lower bracket and only one from the top bracket. I decided to ask the head coach how he arranged the brackets? After he gave me the formula, I went home and used his approach. Wouldn't you know, I came up with a different, more difficult, schedule for his team. Everyone I talked with felt that the tournament had been arraigned inequitable. Even the players commented on the unfairness of the draw. Again, no coach or parent was willing to go to the club for an explanation.

I took it upon myself to call the club President. While trying to describe the situation and asking for resolutions to this dilemma I was basically ignored. So, I followed the phone call with a letter asking for some action. The letter included several positive suggestions for tournament bracketing, team selection and season scheduling. The suggestions would both eliminate any perception of unfairness and increase the level of interest and excitement in the club's play. After four weeks without a reply I took the time to make another phone call. The president refused to talk to me.

A colleague told me that my last option would be to go before the club board and explain the situation. But, to be prepared for a biased reaction that would probably result in my being outcast from the soccer and general community. This didn't seem like such a great option. My child has also been urging me to forget the whole thing. Maybe, I should?

My difficulty lies in the fact that I love the game, I love coaching, and I value the lessons that the game can teach the children. I have concluded that our national obsession of being 'number one' and 'win at any cost' are gigantic obstacles that stunt the growth of the game in this country. The game needs to develop from the bottom up -- grass roots to ODP. Club boards need to be comprised of individuals who welcome input and recognize the different levels of play. We must avoid taking soccer, the most inclusive of games and making it appear exclusive. For the players sake let's shed the blinders and create an environment that will improve all the players not just a 'chosen' few.